Chapter 7.
Georg sat in his study and held the little address book in his hand. His fingers softly traced the lines of the edge and he wondered what he should do with it. He was thinking of mailing it to Maria, but also a visit to Vermont sounded too tempting for him. Then at least he could have a chance to see his daughter as well. But Maria needed time, he knew that. All his senses were longing for her, just to be near her, to hear her voice, to see her beautiful eyes. He had not told his children about what happened in Boston. He didn't know how they would react upon hearing that they had another sister. He stood up and nervously he walked from one side to the other side of the room all the while pondering the situation.
"Okay, girls I want you to make this dress according to this new design. I brought some new materials from Boston." Maria instructed her two seamstresses as she spread out the new material on the table. They heard the doorbell ring and one of the girls jumped up to answer the door.
"Maria, I'm sorry to disturb you, but a handsome man is waiting for you upstairs." The girl said with a grin on her face when she returned to the workshop.
"A handsome man looking for me?" Maria asked in surprise but she put down all her tools and ran to see her visitor.
The two girls looked at each other. "What, Maria has a boyfriend?" They giggled.
Georg looked around in the entrance area carefully. Seeing pictures on the wall he went from one to the other finally his eyes laid upon a picture of his 7 children. He heard footsteps approaching, he thought better to stop before someone noticed his curiosity. Maria recognized Georg's figure in an instant and she took a sharp breath as she saw him standing there in her house.
"Georg?" Maria asked.
"Hello Maria. I think I have something that's yours." Georg said and handed her the address book.
"Oh thank you. I have been looking for this everywhere." Maria answered, although feeling a need to say more, her words failed.
"How are you doing?" He asked a bit shyly.
"I'm fine. And you?" Maria asked although feeling uneasy in this formal conversation.
"I hope I didn't disturb anything." Georg answered politely.
"Oh no the girls are fine downstairs. You know I have my little workshop here in the house. It's easier, especially if you have a small child." Maria answered.
"Oh yes. Is she here?" Georg asked timidly.
"No, she is at school now." Maria answered shortly. "Georg, can I get you something to drink? A cup of tea or coffee maybe?" Maria offered.
"I really don't want to disturb here, Maria." Georg said while looking into Maria's eyes.
"No, you are not disturbing. I would be happy if we could have a cup of tea together." Maria offered. Georg couldn't resist. He watched Maria preparing the tea in the kitchen. She looked like an angel with her slim figure and her hair gently put together at the back. He couldn't remove his gaze off her. This woman still amazed him, now that he knew what all she had gone through he had been more impressed. For hours they sat in the kitchen talking and laughing recalling their past and also discussing the present.
"Maria, when do you think I can see my daughter?" Georg asked.
"I have not told her about you yet. When we met in Boston last week, I was so confused; I simply didn't know what to do, or how to tell her. Actually I have been planning on writing you a letter, but I couldn't really put down my thoughts the way I wanted to. Do you understand it?" Maria asked.
"Yes, Maria. I can understand if you are confused. I would even understand if you were angry with me. After all I got you into trouble......" Georg said in concern but Maria shook her head.
"Please don't talk this way. Yes, I have been through hard times. When I left your house, I thought I wouldn't survive that my heart would break in pain. But I carried on." Maria paused as her tears started falling. "Then I found out that I was expecting..." Maria's tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What did you feel when you found out?" Georg asked and he grabbed her hand.
"What did I feel? I was confused, scared, terrified. I was alone without a proper job and a normal home. How would I have felt otherwise? But Helena was there, she listened to me and instead of firing me, a reaction that I had expected, she understood and supported me regardless my decision. She saved me, Georg." Maria cried. It was more than Georg could bear. He stood up and pulled Maria with him. His fingers gently wiped away the tears and he pulled her close to him. His arms went around her back and she pressed her head against his chest.
"Sssh... everything will be all right now. Everything, my darling." He said and his hands gently caressed her back in comfort. Maria slowly started calming down and finally looked up into his eyes.
"Georg, will you join us for dinner tonight?" Maria offered. "I'm going to talk to Alexandra as soon as she comes home from school and we are going to prepare the best dinner ever." Maria smiled with her eyes still in tears.
"There is nothing I would rather do." Georg answered excitedly. "What time shall I be back?" He asked.
"Around 6.30 p.m.? I'm sure we'll be ready by then." Maria smiled and gave him a little kiss on the cheek.
After Georg left Maria was overwhelmed with a happy excitement she had not felt for years. Recalling the feeling of being in his arms again she slowly became aware of her feelings. She realized that she only had a few hours to get ready with everything.
The two girls as well as Helena realized the stars in Maria's eyes and the glow on her face as she ran downstairs to the workshop to check on them.
"Maria, what's going on with you? What happened?" They asked in unison curious about their friend's behavior.
"What do you mean? I'm fine... and nothing happened." Maria answered as plainly as she could although her eyes told a different story. The two girls exchanged a suspicious and happy look.
"Are you ready with the work?" Maria tried to instruct them in a stern voice, but her happiness was evident. She was not the stern boss type, she much rather focused on creating a nice atmosphere when they spent their long hours in the workshop.
"Okay, now I have to go upstairs, Alexandra is going to be home any minute now." Maria said and she ran upstairs again. Helena sneaked after her. She found Maria in her bedroom sorting out dresses.
"Maria, what are you doing? Are you going to have a date, or what? You are acting like a teenager." Helena asked noticing the excitement on Maria's face.
"No, the date is coming here tonight." Maria answered with a huge grin on her face while swinging in front of the mirror. Helena's face also lit up and gave a questioning look.
"I invited him for dinner. We are old friends." Maria answered.
"Friends? Maria, don't fool me and please be honest to yourself. He is more than a friend to you. After all he is your daughter's father." Helena said smiling.
"Helena!" Maria playfully screamed and sat down on her bed her dresses scattered around her.
"Maria." Helena started softly as she approached the excited young woman. "Whatever happens tonight, I'm sure everything will be alright. And please remember what I told you, just follow your heart." Helena said and gently stroked Maria's face before leaving the young woman alone. Maria was occupied in her bedroom to find a proper dress when she heard her daughter arrive home.
"Mommy? Where are you?" The little voice asked in search for her. Maria walked to the entrance and hugged her daughter close to her. She knew that it was time to reveal the truth for her. She gently stroked the little girl's face and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Come, darling. Let's have some lunch and also I will tell you a story." Maria said and the girl's face lit up with excitement as she always had enjoyed her mother's stories. As smart as the little girl was, she immediately noticed something strange about her mother's behavior.
"Alexandra, darling. I have to tell you something." Maria said as she put a plate in front of her daughter. Taking a seat next to her she took a deep breath. Alexandra's eyes grew wide.
"Remember sweetheart when I told you about your father?" Maria started her voice still a bit shaky.
"He is a sea captain working on a far away sea." Alexandra said a bit sadly. "Wish I could meet him one day. When I go to sleep every night I pray that he comes to see us someday." Alexandra confessed casting her eyes downwards.
"Oh, well darling, it looks that the Lord has answered your prayers." Maria went on.
"You mean that my father is going to visit us?" Alexandra asked curiously but also happily. Maria nodded smiling.
"Yes. He is going to have dinner with us tonight. So if you do your homework quickly, then you can help me prepare something delicious." Maria said and stroked her daughter's face that was still trying to understand the information she had just received. In the next moment Alexandra jumped up from her seat and hugged her mother.
"Oh, mommy. I'm so happy. What shall I put on when he comes? I want to look pretty." Alexandra answered.
"We will think of something appropriate, okay?" Maria laughed.
"Mommy? Tell me why is it happening so suddenly?" Alexandra asked curiously. Maria took her daughter so that she sat on her lap.
"Alexandra. You know you were born in Austria, not in America, right?" Maria asked.
"Yes, that's why we talk German at home." The little girl answered.
"Yes. So you know your father didn't know that we came to America. And when I was in Boston last week I met him by a chance. I didn't know that he was here in America, either. God made us go separate ways for all those many years, but now he has led us together again." Maria gently stroked the girl's face.
"And does he live here in America when he is not out on the sea?" The questions went on.
"Yes, he does. He has a nice house near New York with your brothers and sisters." Maria had to tell her about the children as well.
"Do I have brothers and sisters? Mommy, and why haven't you told me yet? And how come you never see your other children? They must be missing you terribly because I miss you terribly when you are gone for a day." Alexandra said and hugged Maria.
"Alexandra. Those children... I mean, your father had a first wife who died and they had 7 children..." Maria's words failed again. "I was in charge to take care of those children and I loved them all so dearly. I still miss them" Maria finished.
"And then father married you? Alexandra went on asking.
"No, we lost each other before we could get married." Maria swallowed.
"Oh, he surely had to go out to the sea. Were you sad when you lost him?" Alexandra looked up at her mother.
"Yes Alexandra, I was very sad, but God gave me a true gift, you my little sweetheart." Maria hugged her daughter even more. The little girl didn't speak for a few moments just clung to her mother.
"Mommy? Are my brothers and sisters coming tonight as well?" The girl asked breaking the silence.
"No, your father is here on his own. So now, if you do your homework, then we should start cooking." Maria said and tapped her daughter on the nose.
To be continued...
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